WASIM IQBAL

ISLAMABAD: Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has sent a complaint filed by Honda Atlas Cars regarding concentration of manganese in fuel to the relevant department for evaluation of complaint but no decision has so far been taken.

The spokesman for Ogra told Business Recorder, “we have received the complaint and relevant department has initiated its investigation and appropriate action will be taken accordingly”.

Honda Atlas Cars has filed a complaint with Ogra regarding high concentration of manganese being added to fuel sold at petrol pumps. Samples taken from units of Pakistan State Oil, Shell Petroleum and Total show 54 mg of manganese was added per kilogram of fuel to enhance the quality of cheap fuel, according to the complaint.

Highly placed sources said the primary concern of Honda is not limited to the fact that these quantities are hazardous for engines of vehicles. The matter is more dangerous as Honda has received complaints from its customers that Honda Cars’ engines are catching fire and the contaminated fuel may be causing such incidents.

In April 2017, Ogra launched a drive against adulterated petroleum products, but no action has been taken since then. The Petroleum Ministry has failed to implement its ‘fuel-marking’ programme approved in June 2017 aimed at putting a halt to the practice of adding kerosene to fuel.

Recently, Pakistan Medical Research Council carried out a study to determine the blood lead levels and trace elements (copper and manganese) among traffic police constables in Islamabad in order to assess the effects of environmental pollution on the levels of metals in body fluids.

Blood samples were collected from 47 male traffic police constables, 21 to 45 years of age, posted in different areas of Islamabad and controlling traffic from 3 months to 18 years, 8 hours/day, 6 days/week. Adolescent males (13-19 years), residing in comparatively clean and very low traffic areas were included as controls. Blood lead, copper, and manganese concentrations were estimated by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

The study reveals that environmental lead pollution is associated with an increased blood lead concentration in those who are regularly exposed to vehicle exhaust in high traffic areas. The degree of lead pollution arising from vehicle exhaust differs in Karachi and Islamabad. Exposure to air containing dust particles rich in manganese may affect blood manganese levels, the study claims.